PhD Studentship: Ocean Conservation Trust/University of Plymouth Collaborative Doctoral Award, ‘Shifting the Narrative on Ocean Conservation and Place-making in the UK’

DoS: Professor Alsion Anderson (A.Anderson@plymouth.ac.uk)

2^nd Supervisor: Professor Mandy Bloomfield (mandy.bloomfield@plymouth.ac.uk)

Adviser: Nicola Bridge (Head of Ocean Advocacy and Engagement), Ocean Conservation Trust

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship.

The studentship will start on 1 October 2024.

Project Description

This Ocean Conservation Trust/University of Plymouth project seeks to identify the most effective drivers for shifting the narrative on ocean conservation. Improving ocean literacy is essential for meeting global sustainability goals and challenge 10 of the UN Ocean Decade, yet there is an ‘ocean deficit’ (Dobrin, 2021) at the heart of contemporary cultural, social and even environmental values. To take a stark example, SDG14 on protecting the ocean is the least funded of all the 17 UN goals. While there has been a growing body of US-based blue humanities work, little in-depth qualitative work has been undertaken exploring British cultural relations with the ocean. As Schwerdtner Manez et al. (2022) observe: ‘Ocean literacies must be place-specific, represent different knowledge and emotional systems and reflect the histories of the particular areas in question’. The supervisory team combines expertise in english literature, marine conservation and environmental communication. Applicants are encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach but are not expected to have expertise in all three of these areas. There is scope to shape the project according to your particular strengths.

Focused on the city of Plymouth, and taking the Ocean Conservation Trust as a central case study, this project asks: 1) what can various types of cultural representation (media, literature, art, exhibits) tell us about contemporary relationships with the sea and their histories? 2) how can these play a role in shifting the narrative toward more responsible models of marine citizenship?

Eligibility

You are required to have a good honours degree (1st Class or an Upper 2:1) and likely a Masters degree in a relevant subject (completed with Distinction or a High Merit), and a strong wish to pursue a PhD with an original research project.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.

The award is supported for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees, a bench fee of up to £1500 plus a stipend of £18,110 per annum (2023/24 rate) Applications are open for applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications.  Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates approximately £12,697 per annum 2023/24 rate (2024/25 rate TBC).

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact:

Professor Alison Anderson A.Anderson@plymouth.ac.uk

To apply for this position please click on the Apply button above.

Please clearly state the name of the studentship title that you are applying for on the top of your personal statement.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our How to Apply for a Research Degree webpage or contact the Doctoral College.

The closing date for applications on 14 June 2024.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview shortly after the deadline.

Advert information